· Five ran for the U.S. Senate: George H.W. Bush (1967-1971), James Collins (1968-1983), Alan Steelman (1973-1977), Phil Gramm (1983-1985), and Beau Boulter (1985-1989). In addition, Ron Paul (in 1984) and Steve Stockman (2014) launched failed Senate bids during their second stints in the U.S. House.

· Five did not run for reelection: Robert Hawley (1897-1901), Jack Fields (1981-1997), W.R. Archer (1971-2001), Dick Armey (1985-2003), and Ron Paul (ending his third stint in 2012).

· One died: Harry Wurzbach (1921-1929; 1930-1931; Wurzbach had a break in service due to a contested election, which he later won)

· One lost an election contest: William Clark (1870-1872)

· One ran for governor: Tom Loeffler (1979-1987)

· One lost a general election while simultaneously winning a seat via special election: Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (2006-2007)

· One switched parties and then lost the Republican nomination: Greg Laughlin (1989-1997)

With his victory Tuesday, Ratcliffe becomes the 17th second-place primary finisher in a Texas Republican U.S. House race to come back and win the runoff election since 1992.

Democrats did not field a candidate in the 4th CD race this cycle so Ratcliffe will be opposed only by Libertarian nominee J.P. Raley.

Renomination Bids for Sitting Texas Republican U.S. Representatives Since Statehood

US Representative

Years in U.S. House

GOP renom. bids

GOP renom. wins

Joe Barton

1985-present

15

15

W.R. Archer

1971-2001

14

14

Lamar Smith

1987-present

14

14

Sam Johnson

1991-present

12

12

Tom DeLay

1985-2006

11

11

Ron Paul

1976-1977; 1979-1985; 1997-2013

10

10

Mac Thornberry

1995-present

10

10

Larry Combest

1985-2003

9

9

Kevin Brady

1997-present

9

9

Kay Granger

1997-present

9

9

Pete Sessions

1997-present

9

9

Dick Armey

1985-2003

8

8

James Collins

1968-1983

7

7

Jack Fields

1981-1997

7

7

Henry Bonilla

1993-2007

7

7

John Culberson

2001-present

7

7

Michael Burgess

2003-present

6

6

John Carter

2003-present

6

6

Jeb Hensarling

2003-present

6

6

Randy Neugebauer

2003-present

6

6

Ralph Hall

1981-present

6

5

Harry Wurzbach

1921-1929; 1930-1931

5

5

Bruce Alger

1955-1965

5

5

Mike Conaway

2005-present

5

5

Louie Gohmert

2005-present

5

5

Kenny Marchant

2005-present

5

5

Michael McCaul

2005-present

5

5

Ted Poe

2005-present

5

5

Bob Price

1967-1975

4

4

Steve Bartlett

1983-1991

4

4

Thomas Loeffler

1979-1987

3

3

Pete Olson

2009-present

3

3

Mac Sweeney

1985-1989

2

2

Blake Farenthold

2011-present

2

2

Bill Flores

2011-present

2

2

Edward Degener

1870-1871

1

1

George Whitmore

1870-1871

1

1

William Clark

1870-1872

1

1

George Noonan

1895-1897

1

1

Robert Hawley

1897-1901

1

1

Ben Guill

1950-1951

1

1

Ed Foreman

1963-1965

1

1

George Bush

1967-1971

1

1

Alan Steelman

1973-1977

1

1

Beau Boulter

1985-1989

1

1

Steve Stockman

1995-1997; 2013-present

1

1

Quico Canseco

2011-2013

1

1

Randy Weber

2013-present

1

1

Roger Williams

2013-present

1

1

Phil Gramm

1983-1985

0

0

Shelley Sekula-Gibbs

2006-2007

0*

0

Greg Laughlin

1989-1997

0**

0

Total

257

256

* Gibbs won a special election and lost the general election the same day so was never an incumbent U.S. Representative seeking renomination. ** Laughlin switched from the Democratic to Republican parties in the middle of his fourth term and thus had never received a Republican nomination to his seat. Table compiled by Smart Politics.

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